13 Reasons You Should Brew A Cup Of Dandelion Tea

It’s time to look at your lawn in a new way. Where you once saw just an invasion of weeds, now you should envision a potent cocktail of nutrient-rich compounds, because the health benefits of dandelion tea shouldn’t be ignored.

Today this garden weed is getting rediscovered, and dandelion tea is fast becoming a favorite way to detoxify your body, reduce bloating and constipation, soothe an upset stomach and even lower your risk of disease.

Should you add this underrated weed to your diet? Keep reading to learn more!

13 Health Benefits of Drinking Dandelion Tea

If you can get your taste buds past the slightly bitter flavor, you’ll open your body up to a world of benefits by sipping on dandelion tea.

1. Good Source of Nutrients

Infusing dandelion greens in water fills the brew with calcium, iron, potassium, vitamins K, A, and B6, as well as riboflavin and thiamin. You’ll also get a boost of antioxidant flavonoids like carotene and lutein.

Better yet, you can eat the leaves themselves! Ounce for ounce, they have higher nutritional value than both spinach and broccoli.

2. Keep Diabetes in Check

Studies show that sipping on dandelion tea can lower your blood sugar levels, which is critical for keeping diabetes in check. Though the research is still underway to determine the long-term benefits for diabetic patients, these initial results are promising.

3. Caffeine Free Coffee Alternative

Sick of seeking out coffee at every lull in your day? Roasted dandelion root tea offers a satisfying, caffeine-free alternative that looks and tastes similar to the real thing. You’ll get a powerful boost of antioxidants and minerals without the inevitable energy crash that comes with coffee.

4. Reduces Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can cause a host of unwanted health symptoms, including aching joints, muscle tenderness, and even headaches. Dandelion tea’s antioxidants work as anti-inflammatory agents to reduce pain and swelling in infected tissue to keep you comfortable.

5. Reduces Water Weight

Tired of feeling bloated? Dandelion tea acts as a natural diuretic that can increase your urination frequency so that you lose some of your water content. One study showed that two 1-cup servings were all it took to get the participant’s system’s flowing faster.

6. Helps You Lose Weight

Evidence from a Korean study shows that dandelions might be as effective as the weight loss drug Orlistat. How does it accomplish this? Dandelion leaves can naturally inhibit pancreatic lipase, which is an enzyme your body releases during digestion that puts your dietary fat into long-term storage in your body. This means that the brew can help prevent your body from clinging to fat so that you can lose it faster.

7. Prevents Chronic Diseases

Thanks to the potent blend of antioxidants that it contains, a cup of dandelion tea can help your body fight off free radicals, which minimizes oxidative stress that can lead to cancer and other chronic diseases. Likewise, these antioxidants help strengthen your immune system to reduce your risk of contracting an infection.

8. Soothes Digestive Ailments

A lot can go wrong with your digestive system today, but dandelion tea acts as a natural diuretic, digestive stimulant, and mild laxative to keep things functioning as they should. This means that a cup of tea after a meal can speed up the digestive process, eliminate constipation, and reduce cramps and bloating.

9. Promotes Liver Health

This classic liver tonic of folk medicine has scientific research to back up centuries of use. Dandelion tea is believed to increase the flow of bile in your liver, meaning that it can help detoxify the liver and reduce symptoms of liver disease. Research from China Pharmaceutical University even shows that the natural polysaccharides in dandelions can improve liver functioning.

10. Potential Cancer-Fighting Properties

Initial results from studies of dandelion’s abilities to fend off cancer are promising, as they reveal that the plant’s root extract can kill cancerous melanoma cells without harming healthy ones. The antioxidants also naturally fight against the free radical damage that can lead to cancer cells in the first place. So go brew a cup for your health

11. Helps Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Due to dandelion tea’s natural diuretic effects, it makes an effective treatment for urinary tract infections, especially when paired with the herb bearberry (uva ursi). Increased urination from the tea will work to clean out your kidneys, making it harder for an infection to develop.

12. Builds Strong Bones

Thanks to the trace minerals like calcium, zinc, magnesium, and iron it contains, dandelion tea supplies what your body needs to create strong bones and fend off osteoporosis. This is especially important as you age, as bone mineral density naturally begins to decrease without consistent supplementation.

How To Collect Your Own Dandelions

Foraging for wild dandelions for a homemade health tonic might sound like an adventure, but your tea might contain more herbicides than health benefits if you aren’t careful about the source of your supply. Keep in mind that not all dandelions grow in optimal conditions, so avoid any plants likely to be contaminated by roadside pollution or weed killer. Open areas in wooded spaces are usually a safe bet, as well as your backyard if you maintain it naturally. Regardless, make sure you thoroughly wash each plant you harvest just to be safe.

Dandelion leaves are typically picked in spring when they are most tender, while the roots tend to be sweetest when harvested in the fall or winter. When seeking out quality dandelion greens, select the youngest, tenderest leaves for the least bitter brew. They should last for up to a week in the fridge if you store them in a damp paper towel.

Harvesting the roots will require digging down deep enough to pull out the entire taproot, which usually has several stems coming off from it. After the root is thoroughly washed, you can use it as is or slow roast it at 300 degrees for two hours to make dandelion ‘coffee’.

Remember to not collect all of the dandelions for yourself. Dandelions act as one of the first foods for the bees in spring so make sure yo leave plenty for these wonderful creatures to enjoy.

How To Make Dandelion Tea

Making dandelion tea couldn’t be simpler. Just pour hot water over small pieces of sliced greens or roasted root and let it steep until it reaches your preferred strength (usually five to ten minutes) before straining out the plant material and enjoying the drink.

Dandelion tea is usually best enjoyed fresh. If the natural brew is too bitter for you, serve it with a slice of lemon or sweeten it with honey to take the edge off.

You can also dry out the leaves to extend their shelf life. It’s possible to use a dehydrator, an oven set to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, or even the sun’s heat on a sweltering day. Once the leaves or roots are thoroughly dried out, you can store them in airtight glass jars in a cool, dry place out of sunlight.

Possible Side Effects of Dandelion Tea

Though most medical experts consider dandelion tea to be safe, there are some rare side effects to be aware of.

Some people suffer from stomach aches and diarrhea, likely due to the weed’s natural laxative effects. Others occasionally experience allergic reactions to the plant, and some prescription medications (like Cipro) can interact with it. Likewise, dandelion green’s high vitamin K content can make your blood clot faster, which can lead to complications if you’re taking blood thinners.

If you aren’t sure how you’ll react to dandelion tea, it’s best to start with a small cup while at home so that you can gauge your response in a safe space. It’s also a good idea to talk with your doctor before drinking the tea regularly to see if it will affect any of your regular medications.